(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #241 - Intermittent: Spring comedians, which was never gives up (fr, pt)

 [machine translation]

The strike Spring comedians in Montpellier created the first festival canceled due to the 
renegotiation of Un?dic. She also gave new life to the struggle of intermittent, the 
unemployed and precarious. Between amplification of mobilization, convergence of struggles 
and extension to other festivals: travel within the strike. ---- Monday, June 2, 2014, 
Montpellier. New momentum after four months of intermittent mobilization. The team of 
permanent and intermittent Spring comedians, artists associated es-es programmed, issued 
an ultimatum to the government asking it to: "Do not accept the Agreement of 22 March and 
implement new negotiations the basis of proposals from the platform of the Monitoring 
Committee ". Tuesday, June 3, at the lack of response, the strike is required. One of the 
largest theater festivals French will not lift the curtain.

Under the nettle of O domain, the site of the festival, the general assemblies are linked. 
In the morning, those of employees in the Spring comedians who vote every day the strike 
continued. In the afternoon, those of unit movement, open to all, and gathering the people 
mobilized as supporters. According apace - daily at first, then every other day - the 
rallies quickly become the stage of mobilization. State of the fight, actions, releases 
are discussed.

Learn to fight

Discussions ignite. The tone is sometimes heated. Those who are there are likely large. 
The canceled dates, times, lost wages and less. The fear of not being able to renew its 
rights to unemployment benefits. The risk of intermittent stripped of its contents. 
Despite this, proposals, more and more, turn every day into an anger initiatives giving 
rain "the courage to continue the strike." Those present are not specialists in the social 
struggle but artists, technicians, administrators, entrepreneurs show some interim and 
spectators who learn together to mobilize and organize. For many of them, this is the 
first fight. Questions arise inevitable but healthy. What action? For what purposes? 
Should we use force? Strikes and blockades are never parties of pleasure. "We are not 
thugs machine". But before the silence of the government, the need seems to act. And that 
is without joy, sometimes with trepidation, that all modes of control are designed to 
respond and adapt to the context.

Oil stain effect

Since joining the fight, Spring comedians became the nerve center of mobilization. First 
structure to go on strike. Groundbreaking media force. First incentive model for the 
entire cultural community. The ripple effect has since sought. One slogan, "must be taken 
to Avignon. Must buddies join us ".

To do this, multiply and delegations depart daily to meet the other festivals, theaters, 
companies of any cultural actor affected by the agreement of 22 March. Address books are 
peeled. Mails, phone calls, letters. Personal or collective initiatives. All means are 
good for the mobilization gains power. Sometimes it is necessary to convince, to use 
education but sometimes simply, we must support and assist those who would enter into 
conflict without knowing how.

Spectators are not left behind. Number of shares thoughts are towards them. We must 
explain the realities behind the well known as "intermittent" appellation. "We fight for 
all", as the agreement of March 22 is as much as intermittent temporary, unemployed and 
future unemployed the general scheme. It is this "pretense agree" on unemployment 
insurance that is at issue. Negotiated at the headquarters of the MEDEF during a joint 
farce, this agreement creates a considerable tightening of the rules for compensation. 
With the backdrop of the deficit reduction fund unemployment insurance, it attacks the 
schemes more precarious for them to pay all the budget cuts.

Hardening

In a few weeks, ahead of the expiry of the approval of this agreement, the shares harden. 
Occupation of cultural structures, cancellation of performances, interventions and 
speeches as the Opera-Comedy or Montpellier Montpellier Danse festival cancellation 
presentations season, flash-mobs, occupation of MEDEF, the Regional Directorates of 
Cultural Affairs ( Drac), regional management companies, competition, consumption, labor 
and employment (Direccte), hotels of region, etc. The protests are growing. On 16 June, 
nearly 1,300 people lined the streets of Montpellier. Meanwhile, strikes and strike notice 
bloom and earn France. Nearly a hundred of cultural venues and companies are joining the 
Spring actors in the fight. Others find alternative ways to support the movement. Wages 
are paid to the fund support. Some commissions Drac, such as the Languedoc-Roussillon, in 
charge of awarding the grants, refused to sit. The national schools of theater come 
together to publicly oppose the agreement blasted.

Convergence

For several days, the strategy of convergence of struggles taking shape. "We must unite to 
fight against the government." In a few mouths, already sounding the call for a general 
strike. "What we defend, we defend for all. It is necessary to make common cause ". So 
join the movement, such as 16 or 19 June, where the rally event and associated 
intermittent railroaders, pharmaceutical Sanofi employees or to employees es center jobs. 
Delegations are sent to other general meetings. Actions begin to think in common. A 
turning point in the mobilization emerges. Divide and conquer or unite to fight better, 
the choice seems to be done.

Charles, a member of Unit Movement